Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's splenectomy residuals are currently manifested by constipation and occasional abdominal cramping, but no active systemic bacterial infections. The VA has assigned a 20 percent evaluation for these residuals since March 26, 2007.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen a claim for DIC benefits as an adult helpless child of the Veteran, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The appellant is currently married and thus ineligible for DIC benefits.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his desire to testify at the local VA office.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including in the recognized guerrillas.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund as he did not have qualifying service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, to establish eligibility.

The Board denied the claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund as the appellant did not have service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army or recognized guerrillas in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and will be referred back for a dose estimate. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection.

The Veteran's lung disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature of any current lung disability and its relationship to service. The Department of Defense will also be requested to provide a dose assessment if it is determined that the lung disability is related to exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The VA SORCC denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sky Lakes Medical Center and Rogue Valley Medical Center from March 6, 2008 to April 9, 2008. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, post-total knee replacement surgery, are currently rated at 60 percent each. The Board finds that the evidence supports these ratings as they reflect 'severe' symptoms of constant daily pain with significant impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fatigue and malaise symptoms are manifestations of his service-connected anxiety, and thus appropriately compensated under the applicable rating criteria for a psychiatric disability. The claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no diagnosed condition such as chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's current eye disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found no competent evidence linking the Veteran's decreased vision to his in-service symptoms and determined that there is no continuity of symptomatology since his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his claim in the context of a heart disorder, specifically pulmonary hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues regarding angina pectoris and a chronic skin disability, both claimed as resulting from mustard gas exposure during service. The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable, and VA must attempt to obtain any additional pertinent medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right eye pterygium postoperative warrants a 10 percent disability rating effective April 21, 2011. The evidence did not show central visual acuity of 20/70 or 20/100 in one eye and 20/50 in the other eye, or 20/200 or 15/200 in one eye and 20/40 in the other eye.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to inadequate development and premature denial. The Veteran needs to provide information or evidence to support his claim.

The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of a left thumb disorder related to the Veteran's service. The Board finds no basis for granting service connection.

The Board found that the reduction in ratings for the service-connected left foot second toe metatarsophalangeal joint replacement from 30% to 10%, and then to 0%, was proper based on evidence showing improvement since surgery.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as colon cancer, but there is no evidence to support presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection due to lack of a nexus between any disability and service.